Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / April 21, 1989, edition 1 / Page 12
Part of Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
12The Daily Tar HeelFriday, April 21, 1989 Elft Uatlg (Far 97th year of editorial freedom Sharon Kebschull, Editor William Taggart, Managing Editor LOUIS BlSSETTE, Editorial Page Editor MARY Jo DUNNINGTON, Editorial Page Editor JUSTIN McGviRE, University Editor . JENNY CLONINGER, University Editor TAMMY BLACK ARD, State and National Editor CH ARLES BRITTAIN, City Editor ERIK DALE FlIPPO, Business Editor DAVE GLENN, Sports Editor CARA BONNETT, Arts and Features Editor JAMES BENTON, Omnibus Editor JULIA COON, News Editor DAVID SUROVtlZCKl, Photography Editor Kelly Thompson, Design Editor Machines offer life-saving help A resolution passed by Student Congress on Wednesday makes it likely that condoms will be available in residence hall bathrooms by next fall. With the growing threat of AIDS, the installation of condom vending machines is vital to the well-being of UNC students. If the administration goes along with the plan, condom machines will be placed in the first-floor bathrooms of all residence halls coed and single-sex and on the middle and top floors of residence halls with more than five floors. The plan's opponents argue that the existence of the machines will promote sexual activity among students. But this kind of thinking ignores the more important problem, the one that the measure seeks to alleviate. Students in their teens and early 20s are considered a high-risk group for unwanted preg nancies and sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, but they're going to have sex anyway. Making condoms more accessible will simply help ensure that students who choose to be sexually active will do so in a safe and responsible manner. Student advocation for the proposal has been significant, and even admin istrators such as Wayne Kuncl, direc tor of University housing, have lent their support. The proposal only needs Chancellor Paul Hardin's approval to become a reality. According to congress' resolution, a private company would install and maintain the machines. Some of the funds generated by the sales of the condoms would be returned to the University, perhaps to Student Health Service for the expansion of existing programs that provide information to students about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Giving some of the money to SHS should add more strength to the proposal. UNC would not be the first school in the 16-campus UNC system to install condom machines in residence halls, and at Appalachian State University, officials consider their program a success. As AIDS reaches epidemic propor tions, students are demanding that condoms become more accessible. It's about time the University took a major step to reinforce the efforts of Student Health Service in this area. Student Body President Brien Lewis said, "If they prevent one case of AIDS, then the machines have done their job." And he's right. Louis Bissette Construction needs better plan Ground-breaking for the Alumni Center will be May 13, the Saturday before graduation. Continuing the spirit in which the rest of the project was conceived and approved, students will be conspicuously absent. Once again, their concerns about the center's construction will not be heard. The Alumni Center, a proud symbol of UNC's homage to its former students, has long been a thorn in the side of its present students. The controversy over the location of the building stirred students to a futile protest, though assurances to preserve the trees and the path through the Big Woods satisfied student leaders. Real construction should begin by July or August, and students returning for fall semester will be greeted by dump trucks inside the fence around the Big Woods. Those students who live on mid-campus and especially those who must walk through the Big Woods will face very real problems with the construction site. The effects of campus construction on student life became obvious during the completion of Carmichael Resi dence Hall, which is across the street from the Big Woods. Students living around Stadium Drive then probably remember being awakened at dawn by construction workers and having to circumvent the street, which was designated one-way to facilitate supply trucks. This year, students living near the Alumni Center site can expect more of the same. According to Gordon Rutherford, director of Facilities Planning and Design, there are as yet no guidelines for the construction company to follow to ensure student convenience. Anyone who has worked construction can understand the area needed to stage such a large project, with earth moving machines, steel supports and cement blocks competing for space. Ram's Head parking lot is sure to be affected, and Stadium Drive, even if it is kept two-way, is difficult enough without having to dodge a platform truck loaded with pipes. These are only a few of the concerns which Alumni Center planners must address before the major construction begins next door to students' home. Noise, safety, preservation of parking and a hundred other details remain to be solved before the construction contract is finalized. The building should be finished about two years after construction begins, by which point many of the inconvenienced students will be alumni themselves and may not care about the construction. Students should force administrators now, however, to ensure that the next two years do not mean further decreases in the quality of life enjoyed by mid campus residents. David Starnes The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Writers: Kimberly Edens, Chris Landgraff and David Starnes. Assistant Editors: Jessica Yates, arts; Jessica Lanning, city; My ma Miller, features; Staci Cox, managing; Anne Isenhower and Steve Wilson, news; Ellen Thomion.Omnibus; Andrew Podolsky, Jay Reed and Jamie Rosenberg, sports; Karen Dunn, state and national; James Burroughs and Amy Wajda, university. News: Craig Alien, Kari Barlow, Maria Batista, Crystal Bernstein, Victor Blue, Sarah Cagle, Brenda Campbell, James Coblin, L.D. Curie, JoAnna Davis, Blake Dickinson, Jeff Eckard, Karen Entriken, Deirdre Fallon, Mark Folk, Lynn Goswick, Jada K. Harris, Joey Hill, Susan Holdsclaw, Jennifer Johnston, Jason Kelly, Lloyd Lagos, Tracy Lawson, Rheta Logan, Dana Clinton Lumsden, Jeff Lutrell, Kimberly Maxwell, Helle Nielsen, Glenn O'Neal, Simone Pam, Tom Parks, Jannettc Pippin, Elizabeth Sherrod, Sonserae Smith, Will Spears, Larry Stone, Laura Taylor, Kelly Thompson, Kathryne Tovo, Stephanie von Isenburg, Genie Walker, Sandy Wall, Sherry Waters, Chuck Williams, Fred Williams, Jennifer Wing, Katie Wolfe, Nancy Wykle and Faith Wynn. Sports: Mike Berardino, senior writer. Neil Amato, Mark Anderson, Jason Bates, John Bland, Christina Frohock, Scott Gold, Doug Hoogervorst, David Kupstas, Bethany Litton, Bobby McCroskey, Natalie Sekicky, Dave Surowiecki and Eric Wagnon. Arts and Features: Kelly Rhodes, senior writer. Cheryl Allen, Lisa Antonucci, Randy Basinger, Clark Benbow, Adam Bertolett, Roderick Cameron, Ashley Campbell, Pam Emerson, Diana Florence, Laura Francis, Jacki Greenberg, Andrew Lawler, Elizabeth Murray, Julie Olson, Lynn Phillips, Leigh Pressley, Kim Stallings and Anna Turnage. Photography: Thomas Clark, Evan Eile, Chuck Ellison, Steven Exum, Regina Holder, Sheila Johnston, Tracey Langhomc, David Minton and Todd Scott. Copy Editors: Karen Bell, B Buckberry, Michelle Casale, Joy Golden, Bert Hackney, Kathleen Hand, Angela Hill, Susan Holdsclaw, Karen Jackson, Janet McGirt, Angelia Poteat and Clare Wcickert. Editorial Assistants: Mark Chilton. Amy Dickinson, letter typist. Design Assistants: Kim Avetta, Melanie Black, Del Lancaster, Nicole Lutcr, Bill Phillips and Susan Wallace. Cartoonists: Jeff Christian, Adam Cohen, Pete Corsoi, Bryan Donnell, Trey Entwistle, David Estoye, Greg Humphreys and Mike Sutton. Business and Advertising: Kevin Schwartz, director; Patricia Glance, advertising director; Joan Worth, classified manager; Stephanie Chesson, assistant classified manager; Chrissy Mennitt, advertising manager; Sabrina Goodson, business manager; Dawn Dunning, Beth Harding, Sarah Hoskins, Amy McGuirt, Maureen Mclntyre, Denise Necly, Tina Perry, Pam Strickland, Amanda Tilley and Joye Wiley, display advertising representatives; Leisa Hawley, creative director; Dan Raasch, marketing director; Genevieve Halkett, Camille Philyaw, Tammy Sheldon and Angela Spivey, classified advertising representatives; Jeff Carlson, office manager and Allison Ashworth, secretary. Subscriptions: Ken Murphy, manager. Distribution: David Econopouly, manager; Newton Carpenter, assistant. Production: Bill Leslie and Stacy Wynn, managers; Tammy Sheldon, assistant manager; Anita Bentley, Stephanie Locklear and Leslie Sapp, assistants. Printing: The Village Companies. Readers9 'Forum H omosexuality a violation of natural laws Editor 's note: The author is chairwoman of the UNC College Republicans. To the editor: In response to recent letters, I would like to point out that the CGLA, by their promotion of Gay Awareness Week" and the infamous "Blue Jeans Day," opened the door for public criticism of their status as a recognized and funded student group. This criticism will understandably and justifiably be based not only on the political, but also on the biological and moral reasons why the CGLA, a group which promotes unmentionable illegal activities, should not be funded. No legitimate argument exists for homosexuality. Humans are not amoebas or earthworms, and the two genders were created or evolved, take your pick for a biological reason. Simply stated, a homosexual species would die out. Moreover, there were certain things the human body was not meant to do, and the fact that it can be perversely forced to do so does not change the fact that homosexuality is not, never has been and never will be natural. Mr. Starnes, in his misguided column, "Bring rights out of the closet" (April 14), certainly tried his best to make an argument for homosexuality by stating that "homosexuality can be induced in rats." Well, first of all, how exactly does one "induce" homosexuality in rats, and secondly, what kind of person spends his day trying to do this? Besides, I would like to think that there are significant differ ences between a human being and your average rodent. But, in keeping with this argument, I would remind Mr. Starnes that hamsters and 'Other animals have been known to eat members of their own species. Should we therefore fund a "Carolina Maneaters' Association" and promote a "Cannibalism Awareness Week"? And, while Mr. Sudderth, in his letter of April 19, is concerned over "moral" arguments against the CGLA, the fact remains that homosexual acts are crimes against nature. North Carolina law pro hibits such activities and for a state institution to pay for their promotion is abhorrent. It is no wonder that concerned state leaders such as Rep. Stephen Arnold feel compelled to introduce bills requiring the defunding of homosexual organiza tions. Students and taxpayers have the right to keep their money from promoting perverse illegal activities. What you do in the privacy of a closet may be your business, but use your own money to pay fork! Students currently have onlv one choice in determining where their money goes pay your student fees and fund the CGLA or don't register for the next semester. When our student leaders disregard the desires of the students who elected them and refuse to abide by the results of -a referendum mandating the defunding of the CGLA, state legislators are justified in stepping in. By their manipulative "Gay Awareness Week" and "Blue Jeans Day," the CGLA tries to force their lack of sexual morality on everyone else. But that's okay well give them a chance to make a real stand. On Wednesday, April 26, the first annual "Shoe Day," I encourage all heterosexuals and their supporters to wear shoes. And, as for the proclaimed gays who will write in tear-jerker responses to this, try something new. Put away your tissues and your sad stories, and if you need a "support group," take a trip to Student Mental Health. It's free. There are trained pro fessionals there who might be able to help you. Because it's never too late to change. i SHARON SENTELLE Sophomore Journalism political science CGLA supports not converts To the editor: While I am pleased at the number of concerned indivi duals who have felt it necessary to stand up for the rights of all people, regardless of sexual preference, I am appalled at the number of individuals who have seen it as their divine right to legislate the morality of. others. Freedom of association is guaranteed to us as a Consti tutional right. There has never been doubt as to the justifica tion of Campus Crusade for Christ, the Baha'i faith, Fellow ship of Christian Athletes or Hillel; however, there has been great animosity toward the CGLA. The CGLA provides the same types of services that the aforementioned groups pro vide. Such services include a common place to meet people and activities to educate indi viduals about the intricacies of their personal choices. A ser vice that the CGLA does not provide that other groups do is the persuausion factor. CGLA members do not walk around proclaiming their superiority, nor do they attempt to "convert non believers." One service that the CGLA provides that other groups do not is how to handle adverse reactions to their way of life. Last fall I was afforded the opportunity to spend the remaining months of a friend's life with him. He was a gay male and dying of AIDS. The CGLA was there to provide him with information about the disease and people to talk to him about what he was going through. He had friends who did not judge him on the basis of sexual orientation and did not aban don him when he was diag nosed with AIDS. If it had not been for members of the CGLA and the friends that he and I made through the CGLA, we would not have survived those last few months without emotional V Racing Against Bctinctioa. scarring. We were able to be stronger because of the increased information available to us and because of the addi tional support we received from understanding, informed indi viduals. Further, with the help of the CGLA, I felt better equipped to help my friend's family through this tragic experience. I do not know what it feels like to be gay, and Lord willing I will never know what it is like to be abandoned by my family and friends because I am dying of a disease which carries such an overwhelming stigma. The College Republicans say that God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. I was under the impression that God created us all. JENNIFER COHEN Graduate Public administration Bill sets bad precedent To the editor: " State Rep. Stephen Arnold's recent bill to prohibit funding and access for groups repres enting homosexuals is objec tionable for three reasons: the universities in the state system are in danger of losing their accreditation if such a bill is passed; the bill would be an affront to the allocation powers of Student Congress and other student legislative bodies; and similar bans could be applied to other groups viewed as "objectionable." The last time a proposal to ban groups and people asso ciated with those groups from campus was instituted was in 1963, in the form of the Speaker Ban Law, which prohibited known or suspected commu nists from speaking at state universities. This nearly resulted in the revocation of UNC's accreditation. The penalty to students of the revocation of the school's accreditation lies in the jeo pardizing of their chances to get into graduate or professional schools and the lower value of a degree from an unaccredited institution. Any supposed "moral" gain from the banning of homosexual groups will be more than offset by the loss of accreditation and its effects. In addition, control of recog nition of groups and allocation of funding by the state is an insult to the legislative branch of student government. By dictating what groups may not be funded or recognized, the state Legislature implies that we are not responsible enough to administer our student funds. If there is such an anti gay grounds well, let it be heard in the election of anti-CGLA Student Congress representa tives, not in overbearing legis lative action from Raleigh. . Once we ban homosexual groups from the campus, what's next? Homosexual groups are an easy target; it is estimated that only 10 percent of the population is homosex ual, and homosexuality has not gained general acceptance in society. Once the precedent of banning groups is established, it will be easy to extend the ban to other "subversive" or "immoral" groups like Activat ing Awareness for Choice and Equality, the Student Environ mental Action Coalition or even the Young Democrats. This precensorship of ideas is far more "immoral" than homosexuality could ever be, even in the eyes of Stephen Arnold. AARON VARHOLA Sophomore Political science CGLA should give details of student fee use To the editor: , Once again the debate over CGLA funding has resurfaced. To this point the DTH has presented only one side of the argument. One can only make a valid decision on the issue if both sides of the story are presented. So far the DTH has been, once again, severely negligent in this respect. So to the DTH I say, present both sides and allow us to make up our minds rather than making them up for us. You don't have a monopoly on opinions. Before I tell my position on this issue, I would like to say that I believe that the CGLA has a legitimate right to exist. I do not favor getting rid of the CGLA. I do not feel that homosexuality is right, but I cannot deny the fact that it does exist, arid because it does, the CGLA is needed. There is obviously a need for it or it wouldn't exist. The CGLA claims to exist to provide support and to promote awareness of homosexual issues, such as AIDS awareness, among other things. However, I have been here three years and to this day I have never seen the CGLA do anything to promote awareness, with the possible exception of Gay Awareness Week, which seems to me to be no different than any other week. Blue Jeans Day isn't enough to qualify as education of the public about gay and lesbian issues. So what are our coveted student funds going to pay for? The CGLA receives funds to promote awareness, but I am only aware that I never seem to see any of that money in action. How many students not directly involved in the CGLA can actually say that they have seen this money doing anything? I have never seen them in the Pit, or anywhere else, doing anything to raise awareness except protesting things. Where is our money going? I don't advocate student funds for the CGLA because I feel that they are not being used for their intended purpose, to raise awareness and educate. There are two possible solutions to this problem. First, the CGLA should provide a detailed - budget to the public so that all of us who are forced to contribute can see where our money is going. The second alternative is to defund the CGLA and allow all those students who support them to do so. Let them go out and raise money as other non funded groups have to do. This would enable those who want to support them to do so while at the same time increasing awareness of the organization's purpose and activities. There are many non-funded organizations that provide friendship and support for their members; fraternities and sororities provide students with ever lasting friendships and support, and these organizations must rely on alumni and fund-raising projects for monetary sup port. So, CGLA, it can be done! Wed nesday in the Pit a group of students from Health Education and Theta Chi were selling T-shirts, cups and condoms to promote sexual awareness. Where was the CGLA, the group that is supposed to be educating us and making us more aware? Thanks for helping to promote awareness, gays and lesbians. At the root of this argument is the issue of student control over student funds. The real fact of the matter is that students already have no control. Student govern ment continues to fund an organization, the CGLA, that the majority of students do not support. There is no real student control; if there was, the CGLA would have been defunded long ago. Last year's referendum on CGLA funding proved that the majority of students do not want their student fees going to the CGLA, yet the student government continues to ignore its constituency by continuing to fund them. Steve Arnold's bill is an attempt to right the wrong of the student government's refusal to respect the opinion of its constituency. Many times in the past when local and state governments have been guilty of such injustices, the federal government has been forced to step in to correct the problem; likewise, due to the refusal of the student government . to represent the opinion of the majority of the student body, the state legislature has deemed it necessary to make changes. I am not denying the CGLA its right to exist. I believe that it needs to exist, and its members can be homosexual if they want to, but do not force me to give money to them. I don't owe them anything because they choose to be gay. If I knew that something good was coming out of the money that I give to them, I would not have as much trouble giving them the money, but as of now, I have not seen any of this money in action. Hey CGLA! Bring your organization "out of the closet!" JAY WAGNER Junior Political science
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 21, 1989, edition 1
12
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75